484 



NEUROPTERA 



CHAP. 



metamorphosis inasmuch as the larva, instead of lying free, con 

 structs a cocoon in its case or other habitation in which to chang 

 to a nymph. In the larvae that do not make use of a portable 

 case the abdominal hooks are not essential, and are replaced 

 by other organs differing much in structure, being sometimes 

 apparently of a sensitive nature, in other forms possibly respira 

 tory. MuUer tells us of a carnivorous larva of this group in 

 which the anterior legs are armed with powerful forceps for pre- 

 datory purposes. 



The Hydroptilides comprise the most minute of the 

 Phryganeidae, and their species will prob- 

 ably prove to be very numerous in well- 

 watered tropical regions, though few have 

 yet been described from there. The per-: 

 feet Insects (Fig. 320) bear an extreme 

 resemblance to small moths of the group 

 Tineidae. The larvae (Fig. 329) are des- 

 titute of respiratory filaments, and con- 

 struct portable cases of a variety of 

 forms, some resembling seeds. Mtiller has 

 given particulars of a curious nature as 

 to the cases of some Brazilian Hydrop- 

 tilides ; one species moors its dwelling 

 to a stone by means of a long silken 

 lacMnlX^C^: Ttt '^^.^e, by this artifice combining safety 

 larva magnified; A, larva with the powcr of ranging over a con- 

 magiu ec. ( er gj(jgj.^j)iQ extent of water. In Dimdus 

 there is only a narrow slit at each end 

 of the case, but one side of it is provided with two chimneys to 

 permit the flow of water for respiratory purposes. 



The larva of Oxyethira (Fig. 330) is a curiou.s form, possess- 

 ing comparatively long legs, and a head and thorax slender in 

 comparison with the distended hind body. The cases are 

 fastened, for the purposes of pupation, to a leaf of a water-lily. 



Some very curious anomalies as regards the development 

 of the wings exist in the Phryganeidae ; Anomalopteiyx, for 

 instance, has the wings quite short and useless for flight in 

 the male, while in the other sex they are ample ; in Enoicyla 

 the curious Insect figured on p. 481, in which the larvae 

 are of terrestrial habits we find the females with only rudiments 



I 



Fig. 329. 



more 

 KUpalek.) 



